Thomas Heyward wins 'most intense game ever'

Wednesday

Power won over speed Friday as the Thomas Heyward Rebels outlasted the Hilton Head Prep Dolphins 41-35.

With 14 seconds remaining, the Rebels' Seth Jones tossed a pass to a diving Collin Roach in the end zone for 17 yards and the winning touchdown in the Rebels' first SCISA Region 2-AA game this season.

Even though Jones competed in last season's SCISA Class AA championship game, he said this about Friday night's game: "That was the most intense game I've ever played in."

Jones led the Rebels with 41 carries for 233 yards and two touchdowns. As a team, the Rebels (6-2, 1-0 in Region 2-AA) ran for 364 yards.

"They did what we've been doing to other teams all season long," said the Dolphins' Taron Daley. "They ran the ball down our throats."

Daley ran 14 times for 264 yards and five touchdowns.

"Taron Daley's a stud," Rebels coach Nic Shuford said.

Daley's effort wasn't quite enough.

"It came down to who had the ball last," Shuford said.

The Rebels had the ball first, and they set the tone for what they would do the entire game: Grind out long drives.

Starting on their own 20, Jones and Jared Rountree took turns running, with Belger going the final eight yards for a touchdown.

Anthony Sanders kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead.

The Rebels' defense forced a three-and-out when Rountree stopped Daley on third down.

However, that was the calm before the hurricane.

On the first play of the Dolphins' next possession, Daley ran to the right and veered up the middle for a 55-yard touchdown.

Colin White kicked the extra point to tie the game 7-7.

Early in the second quarter, on fourth-and-8, THA quarterback Davis Owens hit Sanders with a perfect pass for a 25-yard touchdown and a 13-7 lead.

Later in the quarter, Jones lost a fumble, and the Dolphins (3-4, 0-3) capitalized with Daley's 1-yard touchdown run.

The extra point gave the Dolphins a 14-13 halftime lead.

Early in the third quarter, Jones took it up the middle on fourth-and-3 for a first down at the Hilton Head 23.

On the next play, he ran up the middle again for a 23-yard touchdown.

Jones ran for the 2-point conversion and a 21-14 lead.

The Dolphins countered with a one-play drive: Daley ran 59 yards for a touchdown and White's extra point tied it at 21.

On fourth-and-1 at the Dolphins 29, Zach Belger broke through the line and ran for a touchdown.

Sanders' extra point attempt fell just short, but the Rebels had the lead, 27-21.

The Dolphins countered with another one-play drive. This time Daley ran 51 yards for a touchdown. White kicked the extra point, and the Dolphins led, 28-27.

Fantastic finish

On the fifth play of the fourth quarter, Owens was knocked out of the game with an injury. He walked off under his own power.

On the next play, Sanders intercepted Tyler Fox and returned it to the 24.

With 9:21 left in the game, Jones took over at quarterback.

"I've always wanted to be the guy who leads the team," Jones said. "No matter what the position."

Jones took the lead and converted on fourth-and-2 with a 2-yard sneak to the 14.

Two plays later, Jones fumbled, but Belger picked it up and ran four yards to the 11.

On the next play, on third-and-7, Jones ran 11 yards up the middle for a touchdown.

Jones ran for the conversion and a 35-28 lead.

The Dolphins countered with yet another one-play drive: Daley ran 51 yards for a touchdown.

As a team, Hilton Head Prep ran for 355 yards.

White's extra point tied it 35-35. From his own 36 with 4:01 left, Jones ran six straight times for 32 yards. On fourth-and-17 from the Dolphins 47, with 35 seconds left, Jones hit Sanders with a 33-yard pass to the 14.

Two plays later, the Rebels had a second-and-13 from the 17 and 14 seconds remained.

With a pass that touched Fox's fingertips, Jones hit Roach in the end zone.